HND Business Project: Digital Technology's Impact on Marks & Spencer

This project investigates the impact of digital technology on Marks and Spencer's business activities, growth, and innovation. The research includes an introduction highlighting the role of digital platforms in modern business, followed by a detailed project management plan covering cost, scope, time, quality, and resources. A work breakdown structure and Gantt chart are also provided. The study employs both qualitative and quantitative research methods, analyzing data through effective tools and techniques. The research utilizes research philosophies like positivism and deductive research approaches. Data collection methods include surveys with managers, and the findings are analyzed to provide recommendations for improving business activities and growth through digital technology implementation. The project concludes with a reflection on the overall study.

Managing Successful
Business Project

TABLE OF CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
TASK 1............................................................................................................................................1
P1. Project aim and objectives for the study..........................................................................1
P2. Project management plan that covers the cost, scope, time, quality and resources in
context of digital plan.............................................................................................................2
P3. Work breakdown structure and a Gantt chart...................................................................3
TASK 2............................................................................................................................................4
P4. Application of qualitative and quantitative research methods.........................................4
TASK 3............................................................................................................................................6
P5 Analysis of data using effective tools and techniques of research methodology............6
P6 Appropriate recommendation..........................................................................................15
TASK 4..........................................................................................................................................16
P7 Reflection on the entire study..........................................................................................16
REFERENCES..............................................................................................................................17

INTRODUCTION
Digital platform plays a crucial role in the present scenario through which organization
can carry out its business activities and functions like marketing, distribution, promotion, etc. in
a smooth and efficient manner. A digital technology includes equipment such as laptop,
computer, Wi-Fi, internet, social media, etc (Zumitzavan and Michie, 2015). In all area of
organization needed effective source of technology by which company can improve operation
and productivity of business. In current assignment, researcher has main aim to understand the
impact of digital technology on business activities. It is one of the famous retail outlets in the
retail sector which serves various consumer products like clothes, footwear, home ware products,
etc. By the use of digital technology and platform, Marks and Spencer can easily promote and
advertise commodities and services in the market. In current study, in order to analyze the
influence of digital technology on business activities and performance of Marks and Spencer,
scholar has used various methods and techniques of research methodology.
TASK 1
P1. Project aim and objectives for the study
Research Aim
To analyze the impact of digital technology in supporting growth and innovation in Marks and
Spencer
Research Objectives
 To understand the meaning of digital technology
 To determine several methods of digital technology that can be used by the business
enterprise
 To analyze the importance of digital technology within Marks and Spencer To recommend the strategy to perform the function of training and development in an
organization for employees
Research questions
1. What is the terminology of digital technology?
2. What are the several methods and ways through which business activities can be carried
out digitally?
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3. Recommend the strategy to perform the function of training and development in an
organization for employees
P2. Project management plan that covers the cost, scope, time, quality and resources in context
of digital plan
It is the great responsibility of project manager to develop a systematic project
management plan that assists in developing strategies for managing various kinds of projects.
With the help of management, project manager can able to effectively utilize each resource for
accomplishing project within specified time. Project manager of Marks and Spencer is required
to focus on several aspects while formulating project management plan- Time- Due to insufficient time, researcher may face issue because time is an important
aspect. Considering the time factor is an important aspect as it is directly relates to quality
of investigation (Soni and Kodali, 2012). In order to overcome the issue of lack of
sufficient time, researcher will use Gantt chart method in which whole research is divided
into small targets. Cost- In order to carry out several activities of investigation like transportation, internet
charge, printing and stationary, etc., scholar requires sufficient fund. It is very difficult in
facilitating various activities and processes in a systematic manner due to insufficient
fund. Quality- This is another one of the significant aspects in investigation which is required
to be considered by investigator at the time of carrying out study (Saunders and Bezzina,
2015). By maintaining the quality standard, researcher can take appropriate decision of
study. Risk- There are several factors of risk that may affect the outcomes of study. The major
risk is related with the plagiarism so that researcher should convert all secondary
information in own words by which chances of plagiarism can minimize.
 Scope of research- In current research study, researcher has main aim to analyze the
impact of digital technology on business activities, growth and innovation (Johnson and
Christensen, 2010). For achieving this objective, researcher has used survey method in
which several views and information of respondents are collected.
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P3. Work breakdown structure and a Gantt chart
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TASK 2
P4. Application of qualitative and quantitative research methods
In the entire study, research methodology is one of the significant aspects that assists
researcher in carrying out the investigation in an effective and efficient manner. It allows scholar
in find out the best solution of research problem. Research methodology is a technique by which
data about subject can be collected, analyzed and interpreted about the study (Khalid, 2009). By
use of several methods of the research methodology such as research approach, research
technique, data collection, research philosophies, research design, sampling, etc., researcher can
collect and analyze the study for finding out the best solution of investigation problem. In the
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present research study, to analyze the impact of digital technology on business activities of
Marks and Spencer, researcher has applied several techniques which are as follows: Research Philosophies- Research philosophy allows to researcher in conduct
investigation in more systematic manner by which appropriate outcome cab obtain at the
right time. Research rationality is a piece of research philosophy that assists in addressing
research issue in more appropriate manner. There are two significant sorts of research
rationalities, interpretivism and positivism (Abdillah, 2014). Interpretivism research
philosophy allows the scholar in using theories and concept for resolve research issue in
more effective manner. In the positivism research philosophy researcher have primary
aim is to construct the research aim in more effective manner so right outcome can easily
obtain. In the present research study, researcher has applied positivism research
philosophy for analyzing the impact of digital technology on the business activities and
innovation within Marks and Spencer. By implementing positivism research philosophy,
scholar can easily analyze the implication of digital technology on company’s
performance. Research approach-Research approach helps to scholar in analyzing the objective of
study and find out effective solution of research problem. Research approach has two
sections, namely inductive and deductive. In the inductive research approach reseracher
are allow to use the hypothesis. (Bilbao-Osorio, Dutta and Lanvin, 2013) while in
deductive approach, theories are confined by agents. In current research study researcher
has applied deductive research approach for analyzing implication of digital technology
on company’s performance. Research strategies- Research Technique is one of the real piece of the research
methodology which help with tending to the primary target of research contemplate.
There are l two sorts of research methods, subjective and quantitative (Borghoff and
Pareschi, 2013). In the current research study, researcher has applied qualitative research
technique for analyzing impact of digital technology on business performance and
activities of Marks and Spencer. Data collection- Data collection is a vital part of research philosophy by which examiner
can gather data about point of study. There are two significant sorts of information
gathering system, essential and auxiliary. In essential information gathering system,
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discussion, overview, poll, perception, etc. can be used by researcher, while in the
optional information gathering sytem, books, diaries, magazines and many other things
can be used by examiner. In order to collect the information about the impact of digital
technology on the business activities researcher has used survey method.
 Sampling- Sampling is another major part of the research technique by which a few
people or group can take test measures. In the current research study, researcher have
applied random sampling method for analyzing the impact of digital technologies
(Bulgurcu, Cavusoglu and Benbasat, 2010). Researcher have selected 10 managers of
Marks and Spencer for collecting information about the impact of digital technologies on
business activities and innovation.
TASK 3
P5 Analysis of data using effective tools and techniques of research methodology
1 Are you aware about the term digital technology?
 Yes
 No
2 Is the company Marks and Spencer is using several platforms and method of digital
technology?
 Yes
 No
3 Among these which digital technologies are mostly used in Mark and Spencer?
 Operation
 Marketing
 Administration
 Production
 Other
4 Have Marks and Spencer present on the social media?
 Yes
 No
5 Which method of digital technology is mostly used by Marks and Spencer?
 Social media
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 Application and software
 Online web page
 Computer and Laptops
 Other
6 Do you believe that digital technology aids Marks and Spencer in promoting and advertising its
product and service in the market?
 Highly satisfied
 Satisfied
 Dissatisfied
 Highly dissatisfied
7 Do you agree that digital technology have improved the business growth and activities in the
Marks and Spencer?
 Strongly agree
 Agree
 Disagree
 Strongly disagree
8 Do you agree that by implementing digital platforms Marks and Spencer have brought
innovation within business?
 Strongly agree
 Agree
 Disagree
 Strongly disagree
9 Recommend the strategies by which Marks and Spencer can improve business activities and
growth by implementing digital technology?
Theme 1: Manager’s awareness about the term digital technology
Are you aware about the term digital technology? Frequency
Yes 8
No 2
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Interpretation and analysis: While this question has been asked in the survey, it has been
identified that many of the manager have awareness about digital technology. Thus, it has been
analyzed that Marks and Spencer is using the digital technology in effective and efficient
manner.
Theme 2: use of several platforms and methods of digital technologies by Marks and Spencer
Do Marks and Spencer company use several platforms and method of digital
technology ? Frequency
Yes 7
No 2
8
Yes No
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
Frequency

Interpretation and analysis: From this section it has been analyzed that Marks and Spencer is
using several methods of the digital technology in its business operation. From the collected
information it has been found that 7 manager said Marks and Spencer company uses several
platforms and method of digital technology.
Theme 3: Use of digital technologies marketing and production area
Which digital technology is mostly used by Mark and Spencer Frequency
Operation 1
Marketing 5
Administration 1
Production 2
Other 1
9
Yes
No

Interpretation and analysis: From this section it has been found that in the Marks and Spencer,
digital technologies are mostly used in marketing department. Thus, from this data it has been
analyzed that with help of digital technologies, Marks and Spencer have successfully promoted
and advertised its product and services in the market. In marketing department company is using
social media for promoting the commodities in market.
Theme 4: Presence of Marks and Spencer on the social media
Does Marks and Spencer presence on the social media ? Frequency
Yes 9
No 1
10
Operation
Marketing
Administration
Production
Other